SCENE 01

EXT. MINISTERS HOUSE. MOTILAL NEHRU MARG. NEW DELHI. LATE NIGHT.

Mid-shot of the gate of a large compound. A nameplate in a deep version of sarkari blue is embedded in the red-brick wall. It reads ‘A RAJA’ in Hindi and in English. A brass plaque above it reads 2-A Motilal Nehru Marg. Lights flicker over the gate, a car honks. The gates are pulled open and a white Scorpio enters, followed by a white Ambassador. Both vehicles halt, there is a slamming of car doors.

INSERT TITLE CARD:

MAY 22, 2009 01:45 AM. CUT TO:

INT. MINISTERS HOUSE. MOTILAL NEHRU MARG. NEW DELHI. SAME TIME.

A RAJA (male, 46) enters his house, along with his key aide RK CHANDOLIA (male, 53) who folds hands and takes his leave as other staff greet him. A RAJA walks on picking out two phones from his front pocket. He looks at the phone in his left hand, as if reading an SMS. He presses the call button on it, moving towards a sofa set, while looking at the messages on his other phone.

FEMALE VOICE Hello?

A RAJA Raja here.

HOLD FRAME:

VOICE OF GOD NARRATOR(V.O.G.) A RAJA INCUMBENT MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ALSO A POET IS ALREADY UNDER THE SCANNER FOR ALLOCATING SPECTRUM IN AN IRREGULAR MANNER DURING HIS MID-TERM STINT AS TELECOM MINISTER

BACK TO:

FEMALE VOICE Hi!. I got a message from Barkha Dutt just now.

1. A RAJA What?

FEMALE VOICE Barkha Dutt. HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. BARKHA DUTT NEWS ANCHOR AND GROUP EDITOR NEW DELHI TELEVISION(NDTV) THIS COLUMBIA J-SCHOOL GRADUATE RECEIVED A PADMASHRI AND ALSO THE INDIAN NEWS BROADCASTING AWARD FOR THE MOST INTELLIGENT NEWS SHOW HOST SHE HAS BEEN NAMED AS ONE OF THE 100 GLOBAL LEADERS OF TOMORROW BY THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND HAS INSPIRED LEAD CHARACTERS IN TWO BOLLYWOOD FILMS LAKSHYA AND NO ONE KILLED JESSICA AND A NOVEL THE PEDDLER OF SOAPS

BACK TO:

A RAJA What does she say?

FEMALE VOICE She says... that she has been following up the story with Prime Minister's Office since... (tired) In fact, she was the one who told me that Sonia Gandhi went there. She says that PM has no problem with you, but he has a problem with Baalu.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. TR BAALU INCUMBENT MINISTER FOR SHIPPING TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS DMK LOYALIST WHO JOINED THE PARTY WHEN HE WAS 16 HIS HAM RADIO CALLSIGN IS VU2TRB BALU IS A BELIEVER IN NUMEROLOGY AND HAS CHANGED HIS NAME TO BAALU

BACK TO: A RAJA But it has to be disclosed to Leader!

NIIRA Ya, Ya... he has to discuss with the Leader. But then the question is about Azhagiri, no? HOLD FRAME:

2. V.O.G. AZHAGIRI SECOND SON OF DMK LEADER KARUNANIDHI FROM SECOND WIFE DAYALU AMMAL IN 2007 DINAKARAN THE NEWSPAPER RUN BY HIS COUSINS THE MARANS PUBLISHED A NIELSEN POLL THAT SAID THAT ONLY 2 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS WANTED AZHAGIRI AS DMK SUCCESSOR 70 PERCENT WANTED HIS YOUNGER BROTHER STALIN HIS SUPPORTERS HAD BURNED DOWN THE OFFICE OF THE NEWSPAPER A US DIPLOMATIC CABLE WRITTEN THIS WEEK ON MAY 13 2009 REPORTS THAT AZHAGIRI HAD ENVELOPES WITH RUPEES 500 EACH DELIVERED TO ONE MILLION VOTERS ALONG WITH THE MORNING NEWSPAPER ON THE DAY OF VOTING IN HIS CONSTITUENCY OF MADURAI

BACK TO:

A RAJA What?

NIIRA Azhagiri's people are saying that why is Maran getting Cabinet...When he is such a senior leader himself?

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. DAYANIDHI MARAN GRANDSON OF THE SISTER OF DMK LEADER KARUNANIDHI THIS HARVARD RETURNED POLITICIAN WAS THE TELECOM MINISTER FROM 2004 IN 2007 THE DMK LEADERSHIP ASKED HIM TO RESIGN FROM THE CABINET FOR VIOLATING PARTY DISCIPLINE AND TARNISHING THE PARTYS IMAGE AS THE NEWSPAPER RUN BY HIS BROTHER HAD PUBLISHED THE POLL THAT FAVOURED STALIN OVER AZHAGIRI AS DMK SUCCESSOR A RAJA THEN TOOK HIS PLACE AS TELECOM MINISTER

BACK TO:

A RAJA That is a different issue. But all these things must be explored and disclosed.

NIIRA That's right. That's right. I told Barkha to get Congress...

A RAJA At least, one to one, let it be disclosed to Leader.

3. NIIRA (Unsure) One to one?

A RAJA One to one. Somebody should give a message to leader in a sealed cover saying, “We are having serious problems with Baalu”.

NIIRA (doubtful) From Congress, right?

A RAJA Haan!

NIIRA OK, I'll tell her. She is talking to Ahmed Patel, so I will talk to her.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. AHMED PATEL POLITICAL SECRETARY AND PUBLICITY SHY RIGHT-HAND MAN OF CONGRESS PRESIDENT SONIA GANDHI

BACK TO:

A RAJA Let him call, at least over the phone and say, “Sir, this is the problem. We are having high regards for Raja. The problem is Baalu”. Tell...!

NIIRA Then how will you resolve the other problem? A RAJA Other problems we will take care of slowly, because now Leader comes down.

NIIRA (not sure) Uh huh?

A RAJA (interjecting) Don't worry.

NIIRA Now Leader comes down to three, no?

A RAJA Yes, comes down to three posts. You suggest...you send a message.

4. NIIRA Haan! FADE OUT

FADE IN TITLE: SWEARING-IN WHISPERS

V.O.G. VOTING FOR THE WORLDS LARGEST DEMOCRATIC POLLS THE 2009 GENERAL ELECTIONS ENDED ON MAY 13 RESULTS WERE DECLARED ON MAY 16 THE UNITED PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE (UPA) LED BY THE CONGRESS PARTY WAS BACK IN POWER FOR A SECOND TERM

INTENSE HORSE-TRADING FOR CABINET BERTHS ENSUES

THE FOLLOWING IS A TALE OF A A FEW DAYS THAT MAY

FADE OUT

SCENE 02

INT. BEDROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATARPUR. NEW DELHI. MORNING.

A mostly dark and oversized bedroom. Long curtains are drawn close, but some sunlight is still cutting in.

SOUNDTRACK: Pal, Pal, Pal, Pal from the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. (Similar to the tune, ‘Theme for a dream’, by Cliff Richard.)

FEMALE VOICE Pal pal pal pal, har pal har pal kaise katega pal, har pal har pal...

OVERLAY TITLE CARD:

8:15 AM

MALE VOICE Dil dil dil dil mein machi hai machi, machi hain...

One of three phones on a bedside table is vibrating, very close to the edge. NIIRA RADIA (woman, 49) stirs in the bed. She grabs the ringing phone and peers at the caller ID.

5. NIIRA (muffled and sleepy) Yes, Sunil

SUNIL ARORA Hello? NIIRA (still soft) Yes, Sunil

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. SUNIL ARORA EX-CHAIRMAN OF INDIAN AIRLINES AND INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OFFICER 1980 BATCH

BACK TO:

SUNIL ARORA Hello?

NIIRA (louder now) Yes Sunil! Hello?

NIIRA tries to cover her eyes from the spill of light entering the room.

SUNIL ARORA Hey, sorry. Were you sleeping?

NIIRA (feigning) No, I woke up.

SUNIL ARORA Ok, is he really leaving at 10 am?

NIIRA Yes he’s going.

SUNIL ARORA What?

NIIRA Yes, he is going.

SUNIL ARORA OK.

NIIRA Basically, Congress has messed up a bit.

6. SUNIL ARORA Yes...

NIIRA They wanted 4 cabinets. There is Azhagiri, no? He's quite a big leader from South India.

SUNIL ARORA Ya, ya, The Madurai Guy!

NIIRA Yes. You can't ignore him.

SUNIL ARORA Yes. He is the eldest son, after all.

By now NIIRA is sitting up in bed, fully awake. She reaches for a remote and points it. A large plasma screen blinks to life, its too loud. She mutes the volume.

NIIRA You have to tell me that I'll give you three posts, then you have to let me decide who those three will be, right?

SUNIL ARORA Yes.

NIIRA That’s where it messed up.

SUNIL ARORA Have they completely lost their heads in the last 48 hours??

NIIRA Who Congress?

SUNIL ARORA Yes

NIIRA A bit much, really! They did the same thing with Farooq Abdullah. HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. FAROOQ ABDULLAH HEAD OF NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND CHIEF MINISTER OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR MIFFED THAT HE WAS NOT GETTING THE CABINET BERTH THAT HE WANTED HE ANNOUNCED TO THE PRESS THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ATTENDING THE SWEARING-IN OF THE PRIME MINISTER AS HE HAD PLANS TO ATTEND THE IPL CRICKET MATCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA

7. BACK TO:

SUNIL ARORA Yes

NIIRA (pauses) Did Praful get aviation? HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. PRAFUL PATEL INCUMBENT CIVIL AVIATION MINISTER AND A VETERAN OF THE NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY(NCP) IN 2007 THE ECONOMIC TIMES NAMED HIM REFORMER OF THE YEAR IN 2006 INDIA TODAY RANKED HIM AS THE NUMBER ONE MINISTER IN 2004 DURING THE PREVIOUS POLLS THE NEWS OF HIM BEING GIVEN THE AVIATION PORTFOLIO HAD LEAKED BEFORE ANY OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

BACK TO:

SUNIL ARORA I don't know. The papers and TV have been saying that since last night, that he's getting it. Rest, god alone knows!

NIIRA Hmm.

SUNIL ARORA Praful has back-up from two places, yaar!

NIIRA Hmm

SUNIL ARORA Plus, their links are all mixed up and entangled.

NIIRA Hmm.

SUNIL ARORA Their lines are too closely crossed with each other... NIIRA Hmm

SUNIL ARORA Are you at home now?

8. NIIRA Yes SUNIL ARORA What is your landline number?

NIIRA I'll just call you. It's 64612650.

SUNIL ARORA Alright.

NIIRA 5 minutes...

NIIRA increases the volume on her TV, switching channels. Cricket is the dominant story and anchors and sports commentators talk excitedly about the IPL Semi-finals in Johannesburg. She lingers a bit. Then a long ticker on Headlines Today says “BREAKING TODAY. KARUNANIDHI: THE CONGRESS SEAT-SHARING FORMULA IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO US. DMK DECIDES TO SUPPORT FROM THE OUTSIDE. DMK LEADER TO BOARD FLIGHT BACK TO CHENNAI IN 25 MINUTES”

INSERT TITLE CARD:

ONE HOUR LATER

CUT TO:

SCENE 03

INT. BEDROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATARPUR. NEW DELHI. MORNING.

NIIRA, freshly bathed is standing by the long windows. The curtains are fully pulled back now, and the large lawns stretch out in front, the scorching summer sun already radiating haze. She slides the glass open, half steps outside but then stops. Goes through her phone menu and presses call. Sound-track of a phone ringing for long. Finally the phone is answered.

MALE VOICE Hello? HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. RK CHANDOLIA PRINCIPAL SECRETARY AND TRUSTED AIDE TO TELECOM MINISTER A. RAJA INDIAN ECONOMIC SERVICE 1984 BATCH

9. BACK TO:

NIIRA Hi!

CHANDOLIA Yes, Good morning.

NIIRA Good morning. Congress has issued a statement, thank god. Barkha got them to do the statement.

CHANDOLIA Yes, yes.

NIIRA That it's not about individuals, it's about... CHANDOLIA Yes, I've already seen that, it was coming on air. Manish Tewari’s...

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. MANISH TEWARI MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CONGRESS

BACK TO:

NIIRA It was very important to get that done.

CHANDOLIA Yes, yes, yes...

NIIRA Any feedback? I spoke to Minister at two o'clock in the night last night...

CHANDOLIA Hmm hmm...

NIIRA And Azhagiri has now put his foot down, no! You see the problem is not what we are all thinking. I had a long chat with Raja and with Kani last night.

HOLD FRAME:

10. V.O.G. KANIMOZHI DAUGHTER OF DMK LEADER FROM THIRD WIFE RAJATHI AMMAL POET JOURNALIST AND HEAD OF THE DMK’S WING FOR “ART LITERATURE AND RATIONALISM” SHE IS SEEN AS THE LITERARY HEIR TO HER FATHER SHE IS STILL A POLITICAL NOVICE ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO HER SIBLINGS AZHAGIRI AND STALIN AND HER COUSIN MARAN SHE IS A RAJYA SABHA MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

BACK TO:

CHANDOLIA Hmm Hmm.

NIIRA Azhagiri is a mass leader.

CHANDOLIA Yes

NIIRA He controls a very large following.

CHANDOLIA Yes yes...

NIIRA They were saying that they’ll give him Minister of State with independent charge but they will give Maran a cabinet berth. This is where the hiccup has come up.

CHANDOLIA Correct, correct, correct.

NIIRA He's a bigger leader than Baalu and all of them put together. So all the Tamilians got up and said what is this?

CHANDOLIA Hmm

NIIRA They said how can Maran be given a cabinet post? So then Azhagiri turned around and said, “not only me. How come Kani is not being given a cabinet post?”

CHANDOLIA Hmm Hmm.

11. NIIRA Then Azhagiri said to his father, you drop Baalu and Maran.

CHANDOLIA Hmm hmm...

NIIRA He told Maran that you take MoS. He didn't say anything.

CHANDOLIA Who, Maran?

NIIRA Yes. He kept absolutely quiet. You should have seen his face - she's telling me this. Then Azhagiri went to Kani last night. At midnight.

CHANDOLIA

Hmm. NIIRA He went to meet her at midnight...

CHANDOLIA Hmm hmm hmm...

NIIRA (yawning) So, let us see. They've gone back to Chennai. Is your minister going for the swearing-in?

CHANDOLIA I don’t know, I'll go to his residence now. I’m leaving in 10-15 minutes.

INSERT TITLE CARD:

09:48 AM

CUT TO:

SCENE 04

INT. OB VAN. RACECOURSE ROAD. NEW DELHI. MORNING

BARKHA DUTT (woman, age 38) hears her cell-phone ring. She is in a very small and dark OB Van, viewing a video monitor. There are other people looking over her shoulder. She slides to another corner of the van as she answers the call.

12. BARKHA (softly) Hi Niira.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. NIIRA RADIA BORN IN KENYA AND EDUCATED IN LONDON NIIRA ARRIVES IN INDIA IN 1995 LEAVING BEHIND A STRING OF BANKRUPT LEISURE TRAVEL AND TOURISM COMPANIES IN THE UK SHE FIXES HELICOPTER SALES FOR THE SAHARA GROUP AND VIES TO BUY A SINKING AIRLINE CALLED MODILUFT FOR HERSELF WITH PLANS TO RECHRISTEN IT MAGIC AIR A BELIEVER IN NUMEROLOGY NIRA CHANGES HER NAME TO NIIRA VAISHNAVI THE PR AGENCY SHE SETS UP SOON BAGS THE ACCOUNTS OF INDIA’S TWO LARGEST PRIVATE BUSINESS CONGLOMERATES ALL 90 COMPANIES OF THE TATA GROUP AND ALL COMPANIES OF MUKESH AMBANIS RELIANCE INDIA LTD OTHER CLIENTS INCLUDE UNITECH AND THE CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRIES

BACK TO:

NIIRA Hi, did I wake you up?

BARKHA No, no, no. I've been up, yaar, Most of the night. The stalemate continues, yaar.

NIIRA Ya. Listen, the thing is that they need to talk to him directly. That is what the problem is.

BARKHA Apparently now, the message from the other side is, “Why did Baalu go public?” They claim that at that point they had offered them a formula and these guys said, no. The DMK never told the congress that they were going to withdraw support...not withdraw support but...

NIIRA (overlaps) Support from outside.

BARKHA Apparently, PM was really pissed off because they went public.

13. NIIRA But that's Baalu's doing, naa... He was not instructed by Karunanidhi to do that.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. KARUNANIDHI ONCE A WRITER OF POLITICAL PLAYS AND TAMIL MOVIES KALAIGNAR OR “SCHOLAR OF ARTS" AS HE IS REVERENTLY CALLED HAS BEEN THE LEADER OF THE DRAVIDA MUNNETRA KAZHAGHAM (DMK) FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS HE IS THE CHIEF MINISTER OF TAMIL NADU

BACK TO:

BARKHA Oh, he wasn't?

NIIRA He was told to come away and tell Congress that...

BARKHA And he went public!

NIIRA Well, the media...the media was standing outside.

BARKHA Oh God! So now what? What should I tell them? Tell me, what should I tell them?

NIIRA I'll tell you what the problem is. I have had a long chat with both his wife and with the daughter, right?

BARKHA Yes, yes.

NIIRA They need to go talk to Karunanidhi. They have very good relationship with Karunanidhi directly.

BARKHA Correct, Yes.

NIIRA The biggest problem is that the following of Azhagiri is saying that you cannot give Maran a cabinet post and keep Azhagiri as a Minister of State.

14. BARKHA That's right. But will Karuna drop Baalu?

NIIRA Look, if you tell him that Baalu is the only problem. I would imagine, he will drop him.

BARKHA But you see the problem right now is also over the choice of portfolios, no?

NIIRA No. They've not said anything. The portfolios have not even got discussed.

BARKHA Congress claims, for whatever it's worth, that the DMK wanted Surface Transport, Power, IT- Telecom, Railways and Health.

NIIRA That was on the first list!

BARKHA Yes. Now, Congress has offered IT-Telecom, Chemical-Fertilizer and Labour

NIIRA Yes.

BARKHA So this is where it'll stand off. Will DMK accept all?

NIIRA Maybe not. Maran is pushing for Coal and Mines. And congress is sending messages through media and through various sources saying that Maran is going around telling everyone that he is the only acceptable person.

BARKHA Ya, ya, ya. That I know.

NIIRA (interjecting) But that's not correct, no?

BARKHA leans and looks at one of the monitors in the OB van.

BARKHA No, I know. And we have taken that off... We've taken that off.

15. NIIRA But also, Congress needs to tell Karunanidhi that we have not said anything about Maran.

BARKHA OK. let me talk to them again.

TITLE CARD:

A LITTLE LATER IN THE MORNING

CUT TO:

SCENE 05

INT. OFFICE. DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM. SANSAD BHAVAN. DELHI

RK CHANDOLIA, Personal secretary to A RAJA is in his office. It is comfortable, in brown and cream. He picks up his ringing phone.

CHANDOLIA Hello.

NIIRA Yes, did you meet him?

CHANDOLIA Yes, I met him. He says nothing of the kind is going to happen. As far as he understands, they keep some portfolios with the PM.

NIIRA They have kept IT-Telecom, Labour and Chemicals & Fertilisers.

CHANDOLIA Labour? Ok, ok, ok...Allright, its OK.

NIIRA I wanted to ask you...where is he? Is he in the house?

CHANDOLIA He is in the house only.

NIIRA How come Baalu left?

16. CHANDOLIA (lowers voice) Oh, yaar. Because PM said that I don't want to give him Infrastructure.

NIIRA The PM said?

CHANDOLIA Actually, some people here told me that they said that he said for Maran and T.R.Baalu, 'no infrastructure portfolios.'

NIIRA But Chemicals and Fertilizer is so important.

CHANDOLIA Yes, but it is not Infrastructure and Development, no? Where you can do further development! Baalu took it offensively, 'how can they do this to me?'

NIIRA hmm.

CHANDOLIA (mumbles) PM was not keen on Maran...

NIIRA Who was not keen on Maran?

CHANDOLIA PM...

NIIRA PM, no? I know that! Media is unnecessarily creating nonsense. But the problem is that the Congress is not communicating this to DMK directly. They need to communicate this.

CHANDOLIA They have communicated.

NIIRA They have communicated?

CHANDOLIA Yesterday night. They have communicated.

NIIRA Saying what?

17. CHANDOLIA Saying that Telecom is OK. But we cannot give other Infrastructure titles to Baalu and Maran.

NIIRA (prompts) And....?

CHANDOLIA So there is a deadlock situation on that.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 06

INT. KANIMOZHIS RESIDENCE. MP HOUSING. SOUTH AVENUE. NEW DELHI

A retinue of people can be seen hanging around. In the middle of the room, an elderly woman, RAJATHI AMMAL (age 65) in a sari is seated on a long sofa. She is on the landline, speaking in Tamil. A younger woman KANIMOZHI(age 41) sits on the dining table, eating breakfast. Her phone is ringing.

SOUNDTRACK: Airtel theme caller-tune.

KANIMOZHI Hello.

NIIRA (V.O.) Kani, apparently they relayed to your father yesterday... KANIMOZHI Mmmm...

NIIRA That they do not want to give any infrastructure portfolio to Baalu or Maran.

KANIMOZHI Yaa...but nobody...who told him? NIIRA No, no. He was told apparently very, very clearly. It was relayed...

KANIMOZHI (disagreeing) Noooo! he was not, he was not! That was the problem. Who came and told him?

NIIRA They’re saying they told him. They must have spoken to him. PM spoke to him.

18. KANIMOZHI No. Prime Minister did not! I was the one who was talking...I was on the phone and Prime Minister said a few words, that's all. And see, Prime Minister is also, you know, very soft spoken. And dad can't hear that clearly also.

INTERCUT:

INT. LIVING ROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATTARPUR FARMHOUSE.

NIIRA is also seated on a table. A Home-Theatre system silently plays NDTV in the background. NIIRA bites her lips, as if to stop from smirking, but the expression is half annoyance. Stirs her glass of juice with her finger.

NIIRA Mm-hmm

KANIMOZHI And the conversation was not so long that they could have conveyed all that.

NIIRA Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

KANIMOZHI They might have told somebody else. You don't know whether that person has conveyed this no, Niira? NIIRA Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. (long pause, sighs) Alright. Let me find out who they conveyed it to. My God! There are so many people working on the thing, it's unbelievable.

KANIMOZHI All that is there, but you know, it depends on the- credibility of the person who came and conveyed it...

NIIRA Right. Right. Right.

KANIMOZHI Even I got a news like this but I don't know. Somehow, somebody senior has to convey it, no? NIIRA (disappointed) That's right. That's right. Ya ya. OK. Alright. I'm going to just tell them again, ya? I'll call you back then.

19. KANIMOZHI And see, one of them can call me. Ghulam can call me and tell me.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. GHULAM NABI AZAD EX-CHIEF MINISTER OF JAMMU & KASHMIR IS A CONGRESS VETERAN AND CRISIS MANAGER FOR THE PARTY

BACK TO:

NIIRA That's right.

KANIMOZHI And then I can go and tell dad. But somebody has to come and say, yes they've said it. Otherwise it would reflect very badly on me.

NIIRA Right. Right. OK. OK. Listen, I'm meeting your mom at 12:30 at your place.

KANIMOZHI OK. I'm here, I'm around. NIIRA OK.

KANIMOZHI Please don't tell this to mom, she will mess it up and go and tell him some rubbish.

NIIRA No, no, no, no.

KANIMOZHI Ask Ghulam to call me and talk to me. I'll be here.

CUT TO:

SCENE 07

EXT. DRIVEWAY. PM'S HOUSE. 7 RACE COURSE ROAD. NEW DELHI

There is heavy press presence. OB vans of several news channels line the driveway and camera-persons lie in wait. BARKHA is walking away from the vans, picking up her phone.

20. BARKHA Ya, Niira?

NIIRA Barkha, what I am told is that Congress yesterday...god knows who they are talking to in the DMK...

BARKHA (interjects) Ya. Must be Maran...

NIIRA Relayed that the infrastructure portfolio should not be given to Maran or Baalu. So what has happened is... that message has not got relayed to Karunanidhi.

BARKHA Oh, I see!

NIIRA They might have told some minion down the line or told Maran who's not relaying the truth.

BARKHA Hmm, I think they have told Maran.

NIIRA Yeah, now what they need to do is, they need to speak to Kani so she can set up the discussion with her father. Even the Prime Minister's discussion was very brief, two minutes. She was the one who's translating...

BARKHA OK? OK...

NIIRA (overlaps) That we'll try and work it out. Let's not take any hasty decision. That's the type of conversation that happened.

BARKHA I'll set it up as soon as I get out of RCR, yaar.

NIIRA What she's saying is that someone senior like Ghulam, because he is the one who is authorised to speak...

BARKHA Ya, ya, ya, right.

21. NIIRA Right?... Was to speak to her then she can tell her father that I have got this message from the Congress.

BARKHA Alright, not a problem. That's not a problem, I'll talk to Azad - I'll talk to Azad right after they get out of RCR.

TITLE CARD:

HALF AN HOUR LATER 11:09 AM

CUT TO:

SCENE 08

INT. STUDIO. HEADLINES TODAY. VIDEOCON TOWER. NEW DELHI.

CU of a phone. A hand picks it up. We read “View missed call”, and then “You missed a call from Niira at 11:03 am.” The hand presses the call button.

SOUNDTRACK: Pal, pal, pal, pal, har pal har pal. Kaise...

NIIRA Shankkar, hi!

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. SHANNKAR AIYAR MANAGING EDITOR INDIA TODAY & HEADLINES TODAY HIS JOURNALISM CAREER SPANNING 25 YEARS FOCUSES ON POLITICAL ECONOMY GOVERNANCE CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL MARKETS A BELIEVER IN NUMEROLOGY SHANKAR HAS CHANGED HIS NAME TO SHANKKAR

BACK TO:

SHANKKAR AIYAR Are you still in some serious meeting and all?

NIIRA No, no, no, no...I wanted to tell you I saw you on air.

22. SHANKKAR AIYAR Yeah.

NIIRA There are two things that are happening. One, the Congress has not ever talked about Baalu or about Raja or anything like that seriously, right? They have not said that.

SHANKKAR AIYAR That's what I told them last night. I don't know whether you watched it. Last night, I said on air - I said, “I am a little mystified as to how everybody seems to know what the Prime Minister has said, except the two ministers and the DMK itself.”

NIIRA (overlaps) And Karunanidhi, ya...

SHANKKAR AIYAR Yes, Because, if the Prime Minister said so then the Congress party should come out and say, 'We have expressed that these two ministers should not be there'. Come out and say it?!

NIIRA That's right.

SHANKKAR AIYAR If you don't say it, then what are you admitting? That you lived with a corrupt minister through five years and couldn't do anything about it?

NIIRA Hmm hmm...

SHANKKAR AIYAR So I said that all this is just drivel. As if your own ministers are very efficient. You've lived with a disaster called Shivraj Patil for five years.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. SHIVRAJ PATIL RESIGNED AS HOME MINISTER 6 MONTHS AGO TAKING THE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NOVEMBER 2008 TERROR ATTACKS IN BOMBAY

INTERCUT:

23. INT. LIVING ROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATTARPUR FARMHOUSE. NEW DELHI

The conversation continues but we now cut to NIIRA, who is sitting at the dining table. The TV still plays in the background. An open notepad is on the table and receives lots of notes.

NIIRA Hmm...Sushil Kumar Shinde?

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. SUSHIL KUMAR SHINDE MINISTER FOR POWER EX-CHIEF MINISTER OF MAHARASHTRA

BACK TO:

SHANKKAR AIYAR Yes

NIIRA Yes, isn’t it? So now, the thing is that there was Baalu, Raja and Maran. That's how it got settled. SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

NIIRA And Azhagiri MoS - independent, and then Kani, MoS.

SHANKKAR AIYAR Correct... Hmm

NIIRA So Azhagiri followers and the DMK leaders in Tamil Nadu said, “you know, he is such a senior leader”

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm NIIRA “How can you give him only an MoS? You take Maran out of there! Or you drop Baalu.” Because Raja they can't drop...because of Dalit. SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

NIIRA So you drop one of them.

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

24. NIIRA Which is when Selvi started intervening and saying, I will commit suicide, I'll do this...

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. SELVI DAUGHTER OF KARUNANIDHI FROM SECOND WIFE SISTER OF STALIN AND AZAHAGIRI MARRIED TO MARAN’S UNCLE WIELDS CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE OVER THE FAMILY IT WAS SELVI WHO BROUGHT MARAN BACK INTO THE FAMILY FOLD AFTER HE WAS MADE TO RESIGN AS TELECOM MINISTER VIA A TRUCE REPORTEDLY SEALED BY A TRANSFER OF SHARES IN SUN TV

BACK TO:

NIIRA Poor old man is under so much pressure!

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

NIIRA Separately, Congress told Maran that we do not want to give infrastructure portfolios...

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

NIIRA To Baalu or to you...that's what the Prime Minister wishes - which he has not relayed to Karunanidhi. Now the problem is, they are all scared of Karunanidhi. So who will go and speak? SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm.

NIIRA Congress is not talking directly to Karunanidhi. They have to talk to him.

BACK TO:

INT. STUDIO. HEADLINES TODAY. VIDEOCON TOWER. NEW DELHI.

Conversation continues. SHANKKAR in a cabin now, his legs stretched out.

25. SHANKKAR AIYAR Even there, there is some difficulty. I have met Karunanidhi several times and despite my knowledge of Tamil, some of the times I can't understand what he says.

NIIRA (V.O.) No, but so then he can ask Kani who is a neutral person.

SHANKKAR AIYAR So see, I agree with you that they should talk to him directly. They have to declare who the official negotiator is. The whole issue will come out.

NIIRA Hmm

SHANKKAR AIYAR Or, ensure that people know that Maran is not the official negotiator. NIIRA Hmm

SHANKKAR AIYAR But then I found out that this bloody English speaking party only talks through English- speaking people.

NIIRA Hmm

SHANKKAR AIYAR And anyway, Daya and Rahul have some business interests. That’s always going to be an issue.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. RAHUL GANDHI MP AND GENERAL SECRETARY OF CONGRESS HEAD OF THE INDIAN YOUTH CONGRESS IS SON OF EX-PRIME MINISTER RAJIV GANDHI AND CONGRESS PRESIDENT SONIA GANDHI BACK TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM. CHHATTARPUR FARMHOUSE. DELHI

NIIRA, still seated on the dining table, quickly picks up her pen and pulls her notepad close to her. She scribbles MARAN draws an arrow and then writes RAHUL, in different handwriting.

26. NIIRA Meaning...What is the interest?

SHANKKAR AIYAR (V.O.) I don’t know. Some software thing. There's some business interest they have together. When he was minister, it slipped out of his mouth, by mistake.

NIIRA But I thought Rahul is the one who said he doesn't want him there?

SHANKKAR AIYAR Who? Dayanidhi? He doesn't want Dayanidhi there?

NIIRA Ya!? SHANKKAR AIYAR Then the alliance might have broken. I Don't know. I mean, I’m talking of 2006.

NIIRA No no, I think it's changed from that point.

SHANKKAR AIYAR Well, look into it...

NIIRA (overlaps) No, no, I know that. Because they have... (changes track) I agree with you, they have not declared who the official negotiator is. That's the mistake. He needs to declare his official negotiator. (then thinking aloud) No... Anyway, that's the problem. So, nobody has told him anything. So, he doesn't know what's going on. He is miffed. He doesn't understand. Whatever he's seeing, is on television...

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

NIIRA And on his own Sun Network, Maran is carrying whatever he wants to be projected to his leader.

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

NIIRA It's as silly as that. Can you imagine? You tell that to your Congress folks.

27. SHANKKAR AIYAR (evasive) What to tell?

NIIRA What? (changes track) Who is...Who is the Finance Minister?

SHANKKAR AIYAR Pranab... Pranab.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. PRANAB MUKHERJEE CONGRESS VETERAN INCUMBENT MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND PREVIOUSLY DEFENCE MINISTER TILL 2006

BACK TO:

NIIRA And Commerce?

SHANKKAR AIYAR I don’t know. I called up Kamal yesterday...

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. KAMAL NATH CONGRESS VETERAN INDIA’S RICHEST MINISTER AND INCUMBENT MINISTER FOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

BACK TO:

NIIRA Hmm

SHANKKAR AIYAR I said, “Are you off to South Block? Are you going to Raisina Hill?”

NIIRA Hmm

SHANKKAR AIYAR Then he said nothing has been decided as yet. He was the first person who gave me that clarity that the list will be finalised at noon today.

28. NIIRA Hmm. So then I... That meeting is going on, right?

SHANKKAR AIYAR It started now. At 10. Started around 10:15.

NIIRA Yes

SHANKKAR AIYAR It will go on till 1...

NIIRA Ah huh...

SHANKKAR AIYAR Even the sure-shot hundred per cent ministers have not been told.

NIIRA They will get told after one o'clock, ya?

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm NIIRA Ok, let us know, what you hear.

NIIRA hangs up. Looks at her notebook and flips back a page. There is a scribbled diagram of the DMK with many annotations, strange words and stick figures. A domestic help enters to clear the table. NIIRA picks up her notebook and makes another call.

CUT TO:

SCENE 09

INT. PLANET M. CONNAUGHT PLACE. DELHI

KANIMOZHI, in the same salwaar kameez as seen earlier is inside a music store. Not too many customers around. Faint music in the background. She is picking out some CDs from a shelf.

SOUNDTRACK: Airtel theme Callertune.

KANIMOZHI drops a few CDs back on a shelf and answers the phone.

KANIMOZHI Hello.

29. NIIRA Kani, one feedback that's coming back from Congress is that you've not even declared who your official negotiator is. So five-five people are negotiating at the same time. If your dad was to appoint one person who is going to negotiate - what everybody has done - then the problem gets solved.

KANIMOZHI (sounding very young) Hey Niira, what can I do Niira? I really can't do anything about it.

NIIRA You can't tell them to appoint an official negotiator?

KANIMOZHI shifts the phone from one ear to the other and looks at the back cover of a CD by the Sabri Brothers that is in her hands.

KANIMOZHI Ya...OK. We'll have to say that it's Dayanidhi Maran.

NIIRA Do you think he will say that?

KANIMOZHI (resigned) He will. Quite positive!

NIIRA Oh dear! (sighs) Oh well, then you might as well not have an official negotiator!

KANIMOZHI hmm?

NIIRA (repeating) Well, then you might as well not have an official negotiator!

KANIMOZHI (distracted) Hmm.

KANIMOZHI has picked up another CD. She takes it to the cashier. The song Ladki ladki (A Hindi cover of Algerian singer Khaled’s Didi) plays in the background.

30. KANIMOZHI One second...?

KANIMOZHI talks to the cashier. Hands him the CD.

NIIRA (sighing) OK. I guess that’s the problem.

KANIMOZHI Hello?

NIIRA (louder) Ya, I guess that’s the problem then. The meeting is still going on. When it's over I'll call you. Ya?

KANIMOZHI See, that is the only big problem, no? Like, none of us want to push for it in case Maran is going to become minister anyway.

NIIRA Yeah.

KANIMOZHI I mean, I'm perfectly alright if dad is - say he is. But then it becomes such a self serving thing, no?

NIIRA Hmm. Is he staying back for the swearing-in?

KANIMOZHI No. What happened is, he was supposed to go with dad. Once he knew that I'm taking a later flight, he's changed his flight to the later one.

NIIRA (softly) My God. You know, he is watching everything you're doing...

KANIMOZHI Let him watch. I am here at some stupid mall. Picking up music CDs. If he wants to he can join...

NIIRA (laughing) What are you picking up?

31. KANIMOZHI (laughing) I am picking up some Fateh Ali Khan. If he wants he can come...

FADE OUT.

TITLE CARD:

NINETY MINUTES LATER

CUT TO:

INT. KANIMOZHIS RESIDENCE. MP QUARTERS. SOUTH AVENUE. NEW DELHI

NIIRA is smiling obsequiously at RAJATHI AMMAL, the elderly lady seen in the earlier scene at KANIMOZHI’s house. Her chartered accountant RATNAM hovers over them.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. RAJATHI AMMAL THIRD WIFE OF KARUNANIDHI AND MOTHER OF KANIMOZHI

BACK TO:

NIIRA places some documents on RAJATHI AMMAL’s lap. She picks them up and hands them over to RATNAM who nods. NIIRA joins palms and makes to leave. Just then KANIMOZHI enters. They acknowledge each others presence, NIIRA winks.

CUT TO:

SCENE 10

INT. THE RAJPUT ROOM. RAMBAGH PALACE HOTEL. JAIPUR. AFTERNOON.

Two people are seated in The Rajput Room, an ornate heritage restaurant, having lunch. A liveried waiter waits on them. We see over the shoulder of one man. The other man VIR(stubble, age 53) stops conversation mid-way, wipes his mouth and picks up his phone.

32. VIR SANGHVI Hi Niira.

NIIRA (sweetly) Hi Vir. Where are you Delhi or...

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. VIR SANGHVI COLUMNIST ONCE THE YOUNGEST EDITOR IN THE HISTORY OF INDIAN JOURNALISM HE NOW EXPOUNDS ON POLITICS AND FOOD IN THE HINDUSTAN TIMES AND ON TELEVISION

INTERCUT:

INT. MOVING CAR. SOUTH AVENUE. NEW DELHI. SAME TIME.

NIIRA, wearing large dark shades is in back-seat of her SUV, which is making its way slowly down a crowded South Avenue. We pass the residences of many ministers. Security guards pass by like in a Shilpa Gupta video. NIIRA’s phone is in her lap, she talks into her hands-free.

VIR SANGHVI (V.O.) I'm in Jaipur. Coming back this evening.

NIIRA OK. I've been talking to my Tamil Nadu friends.

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA I don't know whether you are in the position to get through to anyone at Congress. I just met Kani just now.

INT. THE RAJPUT ROOM. RAMBAGH PALACE HOTEL. JAIPUR. SAME TIME.

The conversation continues from the other side. Vir smiles at his colleague, who we still do not see.

VIR SANGHVI OK.

33. NIIRA And I've been at it since yesterday. The problem is...

VIR SANGHVI I was supposed to meet Sonia today but I've been stuck here. So, now it's becoming tomorrow. I've been meeting with Rahul, but tell me?

NIIRA They are not understanding that they are actually communicating with the wrong guy. Not because I detest Maran but actually the father has not nominated Maran to negotiate. Now, you know, it's like a banana republic the way the cabinet formation plays out.

VIR SANGHVI Then why has Maran become the face? They all hate Maran.

NIIRA No. He is not! He is not! I know, no! But the Congress is under this impression.

VIR SANGHVI So, who should they talk to?

NIIRA Look, they need to talk directly to Karunanidhi, they need to talk to Kani.

VIR SANGHVI Sonia spoke to him yesterday, you know?

INT. MOVING CAR. TEEN MURTI MARG. NEW DELHI. SAME TIME.

NIIRA’S car is moving fast now, down Teen Murti Marg. NIIRA is looking out of the window. Conversation continues.

NIIRA No, she didn't speak to him. Only Prime Minister spoke. And it was Kani who was translating for him. It was very brief. They need to get Ghulam Nabi Azad to speak to Kanimozhi.

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA Seriously, that's the only thing that will work. And Kani will take them to her father.

34. VIR SANGHVI I won't get into Sonia in the short-term, let me try and get through to Ahmed.

NIIRA No. But they need to speak to Kani and Kani will take him to her father directly.

VIR SANGHVI OK. Let me try and get through to Ahmed.

NIIRA They should say, “we don't want Maran”.

VIR SANGHVI OK. Done. Let me just try and get through and I'll let you know soon.

NIIRA Give him this message. She is in her South Avenue residence.

VIR SANGHVI They have her mobile number. Do you know?

NIIRA I just met her. VIR SANGHVI Well, I'll talk with Ahmed. I'm going to talk to him. CUT TO:

SCENE 11

INT. OFFICE. DOT (DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM). SANCHAR BHAVAN. NEW DELHI

A typical office with no particular telecom feel. RAJAN (age 40) is talking aloud to another colleague as he dials a number. Soundtrack of a phone ringing.

MAN MLA is doing...?

CUT TO:

INT. MOVING CAR. JANTAR MANTAR. NEW DELHI

NIIRA still in her car now passing Jantar Mantar. Her phone rings.

35. NIIRA Hi, hi

MAN Ma’am, Rajan, Ma’am.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. RAJAN SECRETARY TO A RAJA

BACK TO:

NIIRA Rajan, hi.

RAJAN Ma’am, I’m giving it to the minister.

NIIRA Yes, fine.

The call is put on hold. Kenny G like music on an EPBAX plays on.

FEMALE VOICE Your call is important to us. (more music) We appreciate the opportunity to serve you.

Music continues. Track ends, changes tune. NIIRA shifts her bluetooth head-set from ear to ear, looks out of the window. We see police cordons around several protest sites. RAJAN’s voice cuts in.

RAJAN Ma’am hold one second...

NIIRA Yes

FEMALE VOICE We're sorry to keep you on hold. Your call is important to us. We appreciate the opportunity to serve...

A RAJA Tell me, Niira...?

36. NIIRA The thing is that the Congress has been totally confused as to who they need to speak to.

A RAJA Huh...?

NIIRA Who they need to speak to in the DMK.

A RAJA (raising voice) Somebody should fly to Leader!

NIIRA No, no. They're going to speak to Kani in a little while, and then Kani is going to take them to Leader directly. I’ve met Kani...

A RAJA (overlaps) That is good, that is good.

NIIRA But Kani should also be sensible enough to say that she does not want anything for herself, no? I have told her that...

A RAJA Ah! Yes...

NIIRA But you also make sure!

A RAJA (overlaps) No problem! See, tell Kani, let her call Leader and say, “this is the problem, shall I bring the people?” Let them go along with Kani, and let them tell that we are having problem with these fellows!

TITLE CARD:

A FEW MINUTES LATER

CUT TO:

37. SCENE 12

INT. MOVING CAR. BARAKHAMBA ROAD. NEW DELHI. AFTERNOON.

NIIRA has her notepad with the diagram open in her hands.

VIR SANGHVI Hi Niira.

NIIRA Vir, just one thing, you want to explain to him...

VIR SANGHVI Ya...

NIIRA That when they send their list of five cabinet ministers, they had sent Railways for Maran.

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA They had sent Surface Transportation for Baalu...

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA Telecom for Raja. VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA Health for Kani...

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA looks at her notes, furrows her brows.

NIIRA (correcting herself) Oh no, sorry! Power for Baalu, Power for Baalu!

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA And Surface Transport for Azhagiri...

VIR SANGHVI OK.

38. NIIRA Knowing that Power and Railways would never be accepted.

VIR SANGHVI That's right.

NIIRA Both people would have been dropped.

VIR SANGHVI (becomes clear) Oh, I see!

NIIRA And then they could have gotten away with only two. Azhagiri and Raja. And Kani would have happily accepted MoS and independent.

VIR SANGHVI That's right. Yeah. So, basically its Maran, no?

NIIRA Ya! So, the moment you drop him you solve your problem.

VIR SANGHVI Who are they dealing with?

NIIRA They are dealing with Maran, Congress is talking to Maran.

VIR SANGHVI No. But who in the Congress?

NIIRA I know he is in touch with Ahmed Patel. And he is in touch with Ghulam Nabi Azad.

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA But Ghulam Nabi Azad doesn't like him.

VIR SANGHVI Even Ahmed doesn't like him. Nobody likes him.

NIIRA So yeah. But seriously there is only one route, talk to the daughter, she will take you to him.

39. TITLE CARD:

ONE HOUR LATER 02:45 PM

CUT TO:

SCENE 13

INT. KANIMOZHIS RESIDENCE. MP QUARTERS. SOUTH AVENUE.

KANIMOZHI is again on the dining table. She is mid-way through her lunch. RAJATHI AMMAL is also at the table. KANIMOZHI lets the phone ring for a while, trying to ignore it. Then she takes her phone and excuses herself from the table. She moves towards the hall, but there seem to be some people there too.

KANIMOZHI (softly) Hello.

NIIRA Hi. KANIMOZHI Yes...

NIIRA They are going to speak to you, that message has gone to them. What also that I have just mentioned to them is that only Raja was supposed to have gone to the swearing-in.

KANIMOZHI Ya...

NIIRA So they’re so sort of, foxed about the whole thing...

KANIMOZHI moves away from RATNAM and some men who are in the hall and within hearing range. She shields her mouth and talks into the phone.

KANIMOZHI Daya is going, no? Daya is going to the swearing in, no?

40. NIIRA That's what I've heard from Congress. He has given his name, that he is going to the swearing- in.

KANIMOZHI But! I don't know, he is supposed to come back with me. So, I mean, he's going out to say that in spite of whatever my leader says, you know I'm with you. NIIRA (frustrated) Yeah, but which your dad should be told, no?

KANIMOZHI He will come and give some stupid cock and bull story to him.

NIIRA He won’t...

KANIMOZHI (overlaps) No, no. He will! He will come back and say Ahmed Patel called and said, “At least you should come, you're the only representative, you're the face of DMK. If you're not there, it won't be good!”

NIIRA If your dad were to say to him that I’ve only authorised Raja to go...

KANIMOZHI Huh?

NIIRA If you could tell your dad to tell Raja to tell Maran that I only authorised Raja not you...

KANIMOZHI Now? No! No way do I have to call up dad and tell him, now I can't!

NIIRA (long silence) Ya, Ok fine. I know you're fed up of it, but this is only a start, no?

KANIMOZHI Mmm...Ya ya.

NIIRA (laughs, patronizing) Politics, my dear.

41. KANIMOZHI I don't mind doing politics with other people, but your own people, yaar?

NIIRA I know, but it's OK. I know you are frustrated with him. Just ignore him and he'll soon become irrelevant. You have to...

KANIMOZHI It's not that. No, no, it is not that, Niira. See, I don't mind a healthy competition. But its sick that somebody is going against your own party and leader...

NIIRA Yeah, but then your father has to understand it. He's not understanding, so you have to tell him that.

KANIMOZHI (pained) How do I make him understand? I keep telling... he doesn't understand...

NIIRA Who is going to make him understand? Only you can do that. Nobody else, Kani. He will not listen to anyone else except you. You know that, You are the only person who he is going to listen to because none of the others...everybody else is too scared to go and tell him that. You're his daughter. You have to use your position Kani. You have to. If you want to save the party, you're going to have to use it.

KANIMOZHI (not convinced) I'll do my best.

NIIRA Ya, you take care, I'll call you...

KANIMOZHI Anyway, I'll be leaving to the airport at 4 o'clock.

NIIRA (impatient) Yeah, that doesn't matter, so they'll call you in Chennai. But they know that they have to speak to you.

KANIMOZHI Ya. I'll be reaching Chennai around 7:30 or so.

42. NIIRA Then, when they call you, you just tell them, “Please come to Chennai if you want to talk.”

CUT TO:

INT. VAISHNAVI. GOPALDAS BHAVAN. BARAKHAMBA ROAD. NEW DELHI.

NIIRA hangs up on KANIMOZHI and runs her hands over her face and through her hair. She takes a deep breath and cracks her knuckles. On the wall is the company’s motto, “Ushering Change Through Communication” Corporate artifacts of various clients adorn the walls and shelves. TATA, RIL, HCC, LAVASA, UNITECH. An idol of Mata Vaishnodevi on her desk. NIIRA is also looking at distribution charts and graphs for TATA Sky in Tamil Nadu on her laptop.

TITLE CARD:

45 MINUTES LATER

CUT TO:

SCENE 14

INT. NDTV NEWSROOM. NEW DELHI. LATE AFTERNOON.

BARKHA is sitting casually on a corner desk in a studio. Lights are low, news streams in the background, the usual movement of people. She has a coffee cup in one hand and a sandwich in another. She gives up on the sandwich and makes a call.

BARKHA Niira?

NIIRA Hi

BARKHA Now, they're saying, "We'll take whoever!"

NIIRA (pause) Whoever, meaning?

BARKHA I've had a long chat and they promised me that Azad will speak to her.

43. NIIRA Who? Ghulam?

BARKHA Ghulam. Yeah.

NIIRA You know, the problem is she's catching a flight at five, ya? Going back. Dayanidhi Maran is attending the swearing-in when only Raja has been authorised to attend. So he's gone and told his leader that Ahmed Patel has called me especially to attend the swearing-in.

BARKHA Ahmed says this is rubbish...

NIIRA But I am telling you, Karunanidhi's very confused.

BARKHA No, but why can't Kani stay also and attend it?

NIIRA Because her father told her to come back. She has to follow what her father says, no?

BARKHA Let me call Ghulam then. Let me call him.

NIIRA Tell him she's leaving at five. She's catching a flight at five.

TITLE CARD:

30 MINUTES LATER

CUT TO:

SCENE 15

INT. OFFICE CABIN. NEWSX STUDIO. NOIDA. LATE AFTERNOON.

An office cabin. Through the glass, you can see a large new- looking news room with modular desks, multiple video screens cover the walls. JEHANGIR POCHA (male 46) is half-looking at stocks on his laptop. His phone rings. Soundtrack of a loungy tune.

44. MAN Hi

NIIRA Jehangir... HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. JEHANGIR POCHA FORMER EDITOR OF BUSINESS WORLD NOW CHIEF EDITOR AND CO-OWNER OF NEWSX INDIA’S FIRST HDTV CHANNEL, REPORTED TO BE BANKROLLED INDIRECTLY BY RELIANCE INDIA LTD.

BACK TO:

JEHANGIR POCHA Hmm

NIIRA Er...Congress never said anything about Raja

JEHANGIR POCHA Sorry?

NIIRA Congress...

JEHANGIR POCHA hmm

NIIRA If you look at the statement that was made to NDTV by Manish Tewari

JEHANGIR POCHA hmm

NIIRA They have clarified very clearly that we have no issue on any minister, we have not made any personal remarks, it's all speculation...

JEHANGIR POCHA Ya I know, so?

NIIRA (worked-up) So why is Shujaat saying this in his report. That Congress has indicated that they do not want to give telecom to Raja...because they have not said that.

45. JEHANGIR POCHA (pseudo indulgent) I know baba...I'll tell them again, yaar. Everyone has been saying that, no! I will clarify with them. NIIRA (somewhat hysterical) No no! But everyone stopped it ya...!

JEHANGIR POCHA (making a point) This has just come out, na! You know how it is. I will tell them again. They are a new shift. I'll tell them.

NIIRA (softly) Ya. Sorry to disturb.

CUT TO:

SCENE 16

INT. VAISHNAVI. GOPALDAS BHAVAN. BARAKHAMBA ROAD. NEW DELHI.

NIIRA picks up her Blackberry and BBMs JEHANGIR POCHA. “Sorry to bug.” He messages back “MEOWBUG”. She smiles tersely. She walks to a table and picks up sheets of paper from a file lying next to a bag. Some GANTT charts for satellite TV penetration this year, and what looks like an astrological chart. Stopping, she goes back to her seat, rests back and a minute later calls another number.

TARUN DAS Hi.

NIIRA Hi!

TARUN DAS How are you?

NIIRA I'm fine. I'm looking at your son's chart.

TARUN DAS Oh my gosh!

NIIRA (laughs) I know how to read it, no?

TARUN DAS Ah! You get a chart?

46. NIIRA (laughs) One of the hazards of being from a family that knew how to do that...

TARUN DAS Right, right...

NIIRA We’ve learnt it as kids...! I spoke to my cousin and if you want to speak to him then he will speak to you... TARUN DAS OK.

NIIRA I can just connect the both of you... I can give you his number.

TARUN DAS (non-committal) Sure...

NIIRA But he's got a good phase, ya! He's got 16 years of Jupiter!

TARUN DAS What does that mean?

NIIRA It means very good. Its a very good phase very positive. He's got a very important which is Jupiter into Mercury, he'll do well!

TARUN DAS Hmm. Huh?!

NIIRA He'll get married next year, by the look of things... but I'll ask Anup to tell you in detail... (laughs) I'm only giving my two little bits of what I can see of it...

TARUN DAS Huh, Hmm

NIIRA His number...? Shall I ask him to call you?

INTERCUT:

47. INT. RESIDENCE. PANSHCEEL PARK. NEW DELHI. SAME TIME

A tall, balding man (age 69), moves towards his closet which is full of suits. He pauses.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. TARUN DAS CHIEF MENTOR AND FORMER HEAD CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRIES (CII) HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF LIBERALIZATION MAKING POLICY AND PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CO-OPERATION CO-CHAIR OF INDO-US STRATEGIC DIALOGUE AWARDED THE PADMABHUSHAN FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND THE CBE BY THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

BACK TO:

TARUN DAS No I'll call him, I'm going to South Africa for the two matches tonight.

NIIRA OK...

TARUN DAS And I'm now going for the swearing-in ceremony.

NIIRA Ah huh...

TARUN DAS For which I've been invited...

NIIRA Right...

TARUN DAS (in jest) Without your friends from the DMK...

NIIRA Ya but you know, can you tell the Congress for me, please! They are listening to Dayanidhi Maran, they are talking to the wrong people. Karunanidhi doesn't even know what's going on. They need to speak to Kanimozhi.

48. TARUN DAS Why don't they keep Maran out? Why do they have to have Maran?

NIIRA He needs help from Congress on that one. Because Karuna thinks that Congress is supporting Maran.

TARUN DAS Oh...OK...But they don't want Raja... Manmohan Singh doesn't want Raja and Baalu.

NIIRA No, he's not said Raja, he's indicated OK about Raja to them. Only Baalu he doesn't want.

TARUN DAS Baalu's of course been terrible.

NIIRA But Raja...Karunanidhi has said about Raja very clearly that “I cannot leave him out because he is a Dalit.”

TARUN DAS Hmm. But can he be put somewhere other than Telecom?

NIIRA We are keeping Raja in Telecom because he will behave himself. Trust me, he'll behave himself.

TARUN DAS But there are too many people against him.

NIIRA (baiting) That's only the Sunil Mittal's, no?

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. SUNIL MITTAL CHAIRMAN AND GROUP CEO BHARTI AIRTEL INDIA'S LARGEST GSM-BASED MOBILE PHONE AND WIRELESS PROVIDER WAS AWARDED THE PADMABHUSHAN FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE TELECOM SECTOR ALSO BEST CEO(2005) BEST ASIAN BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR (2006) TELECOM PERSON OF THE YEAR VOICE AND DATA (2006) PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR (2010)

BACK TO:

49. TARUN DAS May be. But they must be lobbying...

NIIRA I've promised... Raja's promised that he'll speak to Sunil Mittal and deal with the matter.

TARUN DAS Sunil has lobbied against him, I believe. I haven't talked to Sunil...

NIIRA Ya, but he'll come in. Telecom is being given to them. And I'll tell you one thing. Karunanidhi will give Telecom only to Raja. He will not give it to Dayanidhi.

TARUN DAS hmm.

NIIRA He's very clear about that.

TARUN DAS Ok. I'll talk to them. Hmm?

NIIRA But, I can assure Sunil that this will not be a problem. Raja will not go against him. (change of tone, affected). He needs to trust me on that one.

TARUN DAS OK.

NIIRA I'll take him to him and they... Sunil's been very arrogant with him as well. It's not been just one-sided.

TARUN DAS Ya, I'm sure he has been.

NIIRA Ya, he's been extremely arrogant. If he hadn’t been the way he was this problem wouldn't have arisen.

TARUN DAS Hmm. Ok. I will talk, I'll let you know. Hmm?

NIIRA Ya? But tell them to talk through Kanimozhi. It will go directly...

50. TARUN DAS OK.

NIIRA It will work out, ya?

TARUN DAS Ok. Done.

CUT TO:

SCENE 17

INT. VAISHNAVI. GOPALDAS BHAVAN. BARAKHAMBA ROAD. NEW DELHI.

NIIRA and her colleague MANOJ WARRIER(male 40)are staring at a newsflash on INDIA TV in Hindi about the DMK stand-off with the Prime minister over the cabinet berths. The reporter says that “Congress will no longer tolerate DMK’s tantrums. DMK wants to have A. Raja and T.R Baalu, but the PM does not like them both because he does not approve of what they have done it the past. He instead favours Maran.” News Ticker flashes below “PM to be sworn in at 6:30 PM at Ashoka hall” She picks up her phone to make another call, as MANOJ reduces the volume on the TV. Sound-track of phone ringing. Then some coughing.

MAN (coughing) Hi!

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. RANJAN BHATTACHARYA HOTELIER AND ENTREPRENEUR IS THE FOSTER SON-IN-LAW OF AB VAJPAYEE EX-PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

BACK TO:

NIIRA You're not well?

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA I have a cough.

NIIRA Oh, dear me.

51. RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (coughs)

NIIRA (somewhat cattily) Your friend Sunil Mittal...

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA hmm...

NIIRA He's lobbying against Raja!

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA He's lobbying against Raja?!

NIIRA And he's pushing Maran.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Sunil only just arrived last night!

NIIRA No, he’s been working in the background.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Alright, because he called me day before yesterday. He was actually in London and met my daughter. He asked me, “are you also there?” I said, “don't be silly, yaar!” OK, so he's lobbying against Raja for Maran?

NIIRA (smiles at employee) Maran. Yes. He's making a mistake because in this cabinet, Telecom will go only to Raja.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA But tell me, how is the PM reacting?

NIIRA PM has said nothing on this - it's just Navika Kumar who has gone overboard on the say-so of Virat Bhatia, vis-a-vis Maran and Sunil Mittal.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA No no, say it again, sorry?

NIIRA You see Navika in Times Now is working on the behest of Virat Bhatia.

HOLD FRAME:

52. V.O.G. NAVIKA KUMAR POLITICAL & ECONOMIC EDITOR AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST FOR TIMES NOW

BACK TO:

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Who is Virat Bhatia?

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. VIRAT BHATIA MD OF TELECOM GIANT AT&T A HARVARD-WHARTON-KELLOG GRAD WHO WAS CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE DRAFTING OF TELECOM LEGISLATION IN INDIA AND CURRENTLY CHAIRS THE FICCI COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS & DIGITAL ECONOMY AND IS CHAIRMAN OF AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN INDIA

BACK TO:

NIIRA Virat Bhatia is an AT&T guy, and also he used to be the point-man for Maran in Delhi.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Oh that tall boy?

NIIRA Tall boy!

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Ah, yes. Oh!

NIIRA So he's always been Maran's PR machinery when Maran was cabinet minister. Informally, he has used him for all his relationships to the Telecom journalists.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (slowly, thinking) But tell me, is not the Old Man the final authority...?

NIIRA He is. But the Old Man's got stuck. He'd also given the indication that he was under pressure from his family.

53. RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Right.

NIIRA So one is committing suicide in one house, another is committing suicide in another house.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (chuckles)

NIIRA But as far as Karunanidhi was concerned he cannot say no to Raja, because Raja is a Dalit.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Right.

NIIRA He needs to bring him into the Cabinet.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA No, and plus everyone else will say, “bloody hell, you took your share and gave it to your family.”

NIIRA Yes, and Raja is his man. All the sons like him, everybody likes him. He’s amenable to the party and the most trusted one. They won’t take him out.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Right.

NIIRA Sunil Mittal can do whatever he likes. Nobody will remove him.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Hmm.

NIIRA When all the blitz was going on yesterday, I spoke to Navika. I said why are you doing this?

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Mmm.

NIIRA So, Sunil’s name came up.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Hmm

54. NIIRA Then I made Barkha call up Congress, and get a statement from Congress as to whether the Prime Minister had actually said he doesn't want Baalu and Raja.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Yeah, yeah.

NIIRA And which she carried - that he had never said it.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA He had never said it.

NIIRA Now the Congress has issued another statement saying that they never really talked about people.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Niira, just hang on, you're breaking up, I'm going through this area, one minute. (pause) Can you hear me?

NIIRA Yes, I can hear you.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Wait. It’s breaking up. Wait a minute... wait a minute...

CUT TO:

INT. LIFT. LEELA KEMPINSKI. GURGAON. SAME TIME

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (male, mid 50’s) is inside a lift. He hangs up and looks at the ceiling. He sees his large moustache reflecting in the glass chips of a kaleidoscopic mosaic on the ceiling. Time passes. The Lift doors open. Ranjan and some others step out.

CUT TO:

SCENE 18

INT. LOBBY AREA. LEELA KEMPINSKI. GURGAON. SAME TIME.

Elevator doors open. He comes out and is walking towards the exit. His phone rings again.

55. RANJAN BHATTACHARYA OK, so let me understand what you are saying... the family guys are OK to get MoS more or less, provided this Maran boy does not get cabinet, right?

NIIRA Correct, correct.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA And there are people outside the family and outside the Congress who are pushing for Maran, right?

NIIRA And Sunil Mittal's name is one of them.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Listen I... I mean talking to Sunil is no point because obviously he has got this thing. Between you and me, I have a great line into Ghulam Nabi, for whatever he counts.

NIIRA I have been sending him messages since morning. I also told Mukesh to speak to him and tell him to speak to Kani. Because Kani will take him directly to her father.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. MUKESH AMBANI CHAIRMAN AND MD RELIANCE INDUSTRIES INDIA’S LARGEST PRIVATE SECTOR ENTERPRISE DROPPED OUT OF STANFORD TO ASSIST HIS FATHER DHIRUBHAI IN BACKWARD INTEGRATION FROM TEXTILES TO POLYESTER YARN TO PETROLEUM OIL REFINING AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION WAS BRIEFLY THE WORLDS RICHEST MAN SPLIT WITH HIS YOUNGER BROTHER ANIL IN 2005 INTENSE RIVALRY BETWEEN TWO RELIANCE EMPIRES CONTINUES

BACK TO:

NIIRA They really spoiled it for themselves because they could have got away with two cabinet berths.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Now he will have to give them three!

56. NIIRA Maran was the big challenge, and not because I do not like the guy, but genuinely that was a big problem. Maran kept on saying that both Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel have said to him that they want him to be in the Cabinet and that he is the only one who has an acceptable face.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Ok, it’s like this. I just spoke to someone. Ghulam is going for his swearing-in.

NIIRA What is he getting?

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Well, they are not admitting it, he is getting Parliamentary Affairs basically.

NIIRA Hmm.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Now Parliamentary Affairs Minister only has a job for three months? Now, he being a senior guy, he is lobbying for something, but they haven't finalized it as yet.

NIIRA Tell them to give him aviation, Keep Praful out of this.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA No, Apparently Praful did such a lot of drama last night. Then at midnight they told Praful its aviation. But he doesn't have his swearing-in today. He has been told about aviation, but he is not swearing in today.

NIIRA Yeah, I know that.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Its on Tuesday with the others. And Ramesh Chandra called me up and said...

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. RAMESH CHANDRA CHAIRMAN UNITECH ONE OF THE LARGEST REAL ESTATE COMPANIES IN INDIA ENTERING THE TELECOM SECTOR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORWAY BASED TELENOR

57. BACK TO:

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA ”Oh ho ho... Its really good that our Anand Sharma is there.” But my information is that Anand Sharma is not there.

NIIRA Anand Sharma is there in this.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. ANAND SHARMA RAJYA SABHA MP FROM HIMACHAL CONGRESS

CUT TO:

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA No he’s not. This is media spinning...

NIIRA Mukesh told me. Elevated to Cabinet!

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA Well, let's see. I don’t think that he’s there.

NIIRA (diplomatically) Alright, Alright, Alright

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA But I don't know.

NIIRA (half to herself) Very interesting.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (pauses) So is Mukesh happy with...?

NIIRA Very happy.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (chuckling) You know what he told me?

Ranjan is passing through the lobby. He stops to greet someone, continues talking.

58. NIIRA What? RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (to someone else) Namaskar! (continues to NIIRA) He tells me, in his usual style, “What...why?” I told him “Forget about me....whats in it for you?” He says, “Sir, It’s OK”. I said, “Say it, Mukesh. Once in a while show some bloody emotion.” I said,“All your work’s been done!”

NIIRA Hmm.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA He says to me, “You know Ranjan, you're right, Now Congress is our own shop!”

NIIRA (laughs)

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (laughs)

NIIRA (back to business) Ranjan, when you speak to Ghulam, you should tell him that they really messed it up, haan?

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA No, so now basically you want me to convey that through Kanimozhi you go straight to meet the Old Man. This only, no?

NIIRA If you would have refused Baalu and Maran as per the list that had been sent to you then the problem would have been solved.

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA OK, now listen, I mean GNA channel is there, but if I send word straight to SG, is that better?

NIIRA SG is... who?

RANJAN BHATTACHARYA (laughs) SG is SG. Boss! HOLD FRAME:

59. V.O.G. SONIA GANDHI PRESIDENT OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS CHAIRPERSON OF THE RULING UNITED PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE ITALIAN BORN WIFE OF EX-PM RAJIV GANDHI

CUT TO:

NIIRA Oh, beg your pardon, sorry I didn't get that! Yes, Ya ya. Send it!

FADE OUT.

SCENE 19

INT. RECEPTION. VAISHNAVI OFFICE. GOPALDAS BHAVAN.

TITLE CARD:

6:00 PM

NIIRA, MANOJ WARRIER, and two-three other colleagues are inhaling news from a big screen. Channels are being shifted but their focus is mostly on tickers. “BREAKING NEWS: MARAN GETS TELECOM” flashes by on TIMES NOW. There is a display of consternation in the room. NIIRA’s phone rings.

CUT TO:

INT. NDTV NEWSROOM. DELHI. SAME TIME.

Studio floor is lit. There is much activity. BARKHA is in a pale mauve Salwaar Kameez. She moves away from the lights.

BARKHA (emphatic) Yes. Not true!

NIIRA You know, I don't know where she's getting this from?

BARKHA No, but the thing is it fits with the Congress formula. So it might be a...

60. NIIRA Let me tell you one thing's for sure.

BARKHA Yes.

NIIRA 3 plus 4 was yesterday. Because of Maran, they wanted to make it 4 plus 3.

BARKHA OK!

NIIRA So, now it is back to... 3 plus 4. That which was already what was on the table!

BARKHA So why does this formula not sound right, then?

NIIRA Because of Azhagiri, no! If you make Maran...

BARKHA (not listening) Baalu gets Chemicals and Fertiliser... Azhagiri gets- Health. Maran gets Telecom and IT. Raja gets demoted.

NIIRA Who gets demoted? Raja!? That won't happen!

BARKHA That won't happen?

NIIRA (emphatic) I am telling you, he’s not! (laughing) Trust me, he’s not.

BARKHA Ok, alright. Let me call...

CUT TO:

INT. RECEPTION. VAISHNAVI OFFICE. GOPALDAS BHAVAN. NEW DELHI

Channels are being surfed on two TVs. We pause a bit on each. NDTV, NEWS X, AAJ TAK, HEADLINES TODAY, TIMES NOW. Manmohan Singh is taking oath as Prime Minister. Tickers of various cabinet posts flash by. “Maran gets Telecom-IT” continues to flash periodically on some of the channels. Time on both TVs is 18:41.

61. SCENE 20

INT. DOT (DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM). SANCHAR BHAVAN. NEW DELHI

Quite a crowd in front of a TV set in the ground floor entrance. Ambika Soni and Anand Sharma are seen on screen taking their oaths.

CHANDOLIA Hello.

NIIRA Hi. Times Now is running a very nice ticker.

CHANDOLIA Yes, I know that. But why they are running it?

NIIRA I told her...I told her. I said, “you know you should have a sense of humour”. I said, “I didn't know you were a comedy channel.”

CHANDOLIA OK...OK.

NIIRA So she’s saying that they've got confirmed sources from Congress.

CHANDOLIA But Congress has no give or take in this?

NIIRA (winging) I told her that. What is it got to do with Congress?

CHANDOLIA So then they will keep saying that they heard it from the DMK

NIIRA (sounding dejected) Yeah. They’re still at it, they’re still at it. They know no peace. Don’t know who's getting them to do so much. It's him...who else can it be?

CHANDOLIA Yes.

NIIRA I haven't seen him at the swearing-in.

62. CHANDOLIA Who?

NIIRA This Maran.

CHANDOLIA Yes. I just saw Boss, but I didn't see him.

NIIRA (sounding casual) What did he say? When you spoke to boss?

CHANDOLIA He said, “Ok fine”.

NIIRA But what did he tell you, finally?

CHANDOLIA So, he is basically clear. Look, in truth, even his boss also wants him to go to Telecom.

NIIRA Hmm

CHANDOLIA Because of this whole controversy...

NIIRA Hmm

CHANDOLIA It is backfiring on Maran, basically

NIIRA Mmm

CHANDOLIA Now leader, he says he's feeling that after all this if he doesn't become telecom minister, it will look like PM didn't want him.

NIIRA Hmm. When is he going to Tamil Nadu?

CHANDOLIA At night. 8:40 flight.

NIIRA And what time is the meeting tomorrow?

CHANDOLIA That I don't know...

63. NIIRA Let's see... we'll find out.

TITLE CARD:

19:20 PM

CUT TO:

SCENE 21

INT. NDTV NEWSROOM. NEW DELHI.

The first swearing-in ceremony has taken place. A re-run is playing on various channels on the video screens. BARKHA is animated, on the phone.

BARKHA Apparently this story is not coming from Dwivedi but from Chennai... Some section of the DMK.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. JANARDHAN DWIVEDI CHIEF MEDIA SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CONGRESS

CUT TO:

NIIRA No, it's coming from... (stops short, unsure) hmm...

BARKHA You see what happened was everybody I know in the Congress was at the swearing-in. So I haven't been able to speak to the top guys. Now its just finished and I am going to make my set of calls.

NIIRA Kani has just landed in Chennai. Just now. I just spoke...

BARKHA Where is Daya? Where is Maran?

64. NIIRA Daya didn't turn up for the swearing-in because he was called back...

BARKHA OK...

NIIRA Because he went and told Karunanidhi that I have been asked by Ahmed Patel to come for the swearing-in.

BARKHA Ok...

NIIRA (chuckles) But then the Leader said then you join the Congress.

BARKHA (laughs) Ha! So now?

CUT TO:

SCENE 22

INT. STUDIO. HEADLINES TODAY. VIDEOCON TOWER. DELHI.

SHANKKAR is walking towards the studio floor. He picks up his phone.

SHANKKAR AIYAR Haan, ma!

NIIRA (V.O.) (tired) Hi Shankkar.

SHANKKAR AIYAR What’s happening? No deal, no?

NIIRA No, no deal! What it is, is that your Pallavi Ghosh and Navika Kumar are a bit mad. You should take it off your air because it looks quite silly. Because the deal hasn't happened.

SHANKKAR AIYAR No, No. I’ve told the Headline News folks to ask me before running it.

65. NIIRA No, They are running it. Breaking News...

SHANKKAR AIYAR Headline is also doing this?

NIIRA Yes, Both are doing it. Both Aaj Tak and Headlines are doing it. And the thing is the meeting hasn't taken place... they are waiting for Raja to come back tonight and Kani is also coming back tonight... she left at five and Raja is leaving now after the swearing-in.

SHANKKAR AIYAR Alright. I'll make a call...

NIIRA Ya do that. But there’s one more thing. This Sunil and all of them are very active to get Maran there.

SHANKKAR AIYAR Look I told this to you in the beginning itself. Didn’t you tell Kani what misrepresentation this scoundrel keeps doing?

NIIRA Yes, I told her. Today CM also got to know.

SHANKKAR AIYAR He is batting from their side, and causing havoc.

NIIRA From whose side?

SHANKKAR AIYAR From Congress’s side.

NIIRA He is doing it from Sunil Mittal, right? He shouldn't do that because let me tell you one thing. When I was there at Tamil Nadu house, Karunanidhi made one thing very clear...you must know this. He said because there has been so much controversy on Raja - he was talking to Kani and of course she was translating - “Because there has been so much controversy on Raja I cannot let anybody believe that he was wrong!”

SHANKKAR AIYAR Hmm

66. NIIRA Therefore Raja will come back as Telecom Minister!

FADE OUT:

SCENE 23

INT. MOVING CAR. ANNA SALAI. CHENNAI. LATE EVENING.

KANIMOZHI is in the backseat of a spacious Ambassador that’s making its way through peak-hour traffic in Chennai. Apart from the driver there is someone else in the front-seat. KANIMOZHI appears a little grim and tired. Rests her head to one side of the car, balancing the phone.

NIIRA (pacifying her) Hello, it's not true Kani! So why should we tell him, there's no need.

KANIMOZHI (acting casual) No, no, I will just make sure because he is trying to spread the thing that...

NIIRA No, no, no. Prime Minister has already clarified that the deal has not been done. We're still in the middle of discussing, there is no point of...

KANIMOZHI (mumbles) See, they have promised to give us telecom, but it cannot now become that they give it to Maran. He’s already trying...

NIIRA (overlaps) What?

KANIMOZHI They've already told us they will give us telecom...

NIIRA Yaa...

KANIMOZHI Now it shouldn't be given to him because he is going around planting the story that...

67. NIIRA (cutting in) But ignore it then. Because he’s planted it on the channels when you were on the flight.

KANIMOZHI (dramatic) Yaa! Ya, I know...

NIIRA Janardan Dwivedi was the one who made the statement that the deal had been closed with the DMK. That “there is no need for us to travel to Chennai” Then, the channels asked the Prime Minister...

KANIMOZHI Yes, yes. That I know. No, no. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying be careful, because it shouldn't... (lowers voice) because he's trying to get somebody from the Congress say things against Raja to dad.

NIIRA (pauses a while) Nobody said anything. The Prime Minister has not made a statement.

KANIMOZHI (almost in whispers) Not the prime minister. When they come to meet Dad...

NIIRA (impatiently) Agreed! But Kani, the Prime Minister has just made a statement that I have no problem with Raja and Baalu, they're my esteemed colleagues. (pauses, emphasizes) Prime Minister has just made that statement!

KANIMOZHI (not convinced) He can make a statement! But whoever is going to come and talk to dad shouldn't say otherwise. Because, what people say outside and what they actually mean is very different. And all of us know that in politics.

NIIRA Hmm.

68. KANIMOZHI So I'm just saying make sure that whoever is going to come and talk doesn't talk against this guy, because I heard from another source that they might.

Long pause. KANIMOZHI waits on the phone. Car appears to be stuck in heavy highway traffic. The driver honks hard.

CUT TO:

INT. MOVING CAR. AUGUST KRANTI MARG. NEW DELHI. SAME TIME

NIIRA appears equally tired. She pauses and sighs.

NIIRA hmm. Aiii. Well, OK. Ya.

KANIMOZHI Even one line against him will definitely move it to this guy – Maran

NIIRA Uh huh...

KANIMOZHI Actually if they say that we're very happy to give it to Raja, because he did a good job and things like that. Then it will work in his favor. (softer...) Even if they don't say that, it is OK. But one word against him and you know...

FADE OUT.

TITLE CARD:

LATER THAT NIGHT 10:16 PM

CUT TO:

69. SCENE 24

INT. LIVINGROOM. OAK DRIVE CHHATTARPUR. NEW DELHI. NIGHT.

NIIRA, is resting in the spacious living room. She nurses a stiff vodka-sprite. News of the DMK-Congress impasse still echoes from the TV. “Ghulam Nabi Azad not to go to Chennai to negotiate with the DMK, but remains optimistic about a settlement.” She mutes the TV. Shuts her eyes. Her phone begins to flash.

SOUNDTRACK: Pal pal pal pal. Kaise katega pal...

NIIRA puts it on speaker phone.

NIIRA Hi!

VIR SANGHVI Hi Niira?

NIIRA (chuckles) Hi.

VIR SANGHVI Hi, can you talk?

NIIRA Ya, ya. Ofcourse.

VIR SANGHVI No, Maran did not meet...

NIIRA He didn't, no? He’s gone around telling everybody...

VIR SANGHVI He's not met. They have refused. They're not treating him as official spokesperson at all. I saw your message. He is nonstop calling up Ghulam Nabi Azad every half an hour and making new demands and all that. As far as we're concerned there are two wives, one brother, one sister, one nephew and it's all got very complicated for us. We've made a basic offer, if Karunanidhi responds to us and tells us that he would like to respond directly- if he would like to talk to Mrs. Gandhi - he spoke only to Manmohan Singh - we would be more than happy. But we're not going to chase them now.

70. VIR SANGHVI (CONT'D) We've told Maran that also. They have to come back to us and tell us what they think of our offer. And apparently, the DMK is getting very bad press in Chennai?

NIIRA is suddenly alert. She grabs her phone takes it to her ear, switches speaker phone off. Lunges for her note-pad, flips a page.

NIIRA Mm-hmm.

VIR SANGHVI So, he said we're going to wait for two days. Let them come back. We are of the line that this is not a Congress - DMK problem, this is an internal DMK problem because they can't get their act together between all his wives and children and nephews and all of that. He's got to get his act together and nominate one person and we would be very happy to deal with him. We are not happy with this Maran who keeps calling up Ghulam Nabi and saying, “talk to me, talk to me.” They are not taking him seriously.

NIIRA (pauses) Very interesting. I'm glad - you spoke to Ghulam Nabi, is it?

VIR SANGHVI I spoke to Ahmed.

NIIRA Ahmed. alright.

VIR SANGHVI Ghulam Nabi is not a very key figure, Ahmed is the key figure.

NIIRA (softly, scribbling away) Right, right, right.

VIR SANGHVI Yeah. So, Ahmed. He says Ghulam has been dealing with Maran. But Ghulam is not our official person and we're not taking Maran seriously. As far as we're concerned they've asked for five crucial ministries, it's an idiotic and unreasonable demand.

71. VIR SANGHVI (CONT'D) We've made them a perfectly reasonable demand. Now, it is for Karunanidhi to get back to us...Kani come and see us, anyone can come and see us and say I'll put you on the line with my father etcetera. Lines and doors are open to her. But we can't have a situation where Maran keeps calling us and saying I'm the person and telling Ghulam, “I want this, I want that. Who is Maran?”

NIIRA (thinking, mumbles) Hmm hmm.

VIR SANGHVI Maran has gone back apparently today to Chennai?

NIIRA Yeah. He has gone back, yeah. He was called back.

VIR SANGHVI He says, we told Maran also that we'll deal with Karunanidhi, so he has gone back. So they are quite hopeful. They say we've a lot of regard for Karunanidhi, we would like to deal with him. We have no regard for Maran.

NIIRA (soft, thinking) OK. That's interesting.

VIR SANGHVI Yeah?

NIIRA I better tell them this.

VIR SANGHVI Yeah. Anything further, I mean, just let me know and I'll take it further.

NIIRA OK, great. And... we're meeting tomorrow?

VIR SANGHVI 1:30 tomorrow, no?

NIIRA 1:30 Ya.

VIR SANGHVI Ya? See you then, bye, bye.

72. NIIRA looks energised. She goes up to the bar pours out another drink. She presses call and cradles her phone between her ear and shoulder as she stirs her drink with her finger.

CUT TO:

SCENE 25

INT. RAJATHI AMMALS HOME. CIT COLONY. CHENNAI. NIGHT.

RAJATHI AMMAL is seated on a sofa, surrounded by many people. KALAIGNAR TV beams on the TV screen. KANIMOZHI is moping around the place. She moves away from the hall, picking up the phone.

NIIRA Kani, hi!

KANIMOZHI (sweetly) Hi! Niira.

NIIRA Kani there is feedback from the Congress... is that... (emphasizing) This is from Ahmed Patel, OK...?

KANIMOZHI Ok.

NIIRA He says that, “look, we recognise that the problem is the DMK's internal problem. It's a problem between the family. It's a problem between their own people. They've given us a list which is of 5 people... it is not acceptable to us. Whilst we acknowledge that the dialogue has broken down, it's not for us to get back to them because we've given them a last and final offer. As far as we are concerned Dayanidhi Maran has been calling Ghulam Nabi Azad on the half hour...”

KANIMOZHI (reeling) My god...

INTERCUT:

73. INT. LIVING ROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATTARPUR FARMHOUSE. NEW DELHI.

NIIRA is now on the sofa. She’s reading from her notes, drink in hand.

NIIRA “...And demanding all sorts of things.” And they have told him very categorically, “no point you calling us. As far as we are concerned, we recognise that this is an internal DMK problem and a DMK family problem. It has nothing to do with Congress at all.” Congress has spelt out its position. So therefore the leadership has taken a decision which is why they have not called you. That's one. The second is... He said that there was a news report that came out at 7'o clock this evening which said that Dayanidhi got Telecom etc, etc...

KANIMOZHI Mmm

NIIRA That's a news report when checked back with Times Now was given by Sun TV.

INT. RAJATHI AMMALS HOME. CIT COLONY. CHENNAI.

KANIMOZHI half lies down on a bed.

KANIMOZHI See Niira, we just want some initiative from their side because the leader is really hurt about the abruptness of the whole thing.

NIIRA (V.O.) Uh-huh...

KANIMOZHI Somebody should come from that side to start it.

NIIRA Hmm.

KANIMOZHI Then I think it will go off. I'll also try to convey that message.

NIIRA (asserts) Tell them it has come from Ahmed Patel, OK?

KANIMOZHI Hmm.

74. NIIRA I'll talk to him just now and tell them about their abruptness - and see if we can find a way round that. But I think you need to relay this message to your dad.

KANIMOZHI I will.

NIIRA Hmm. OK. (adds) He's with you no. Today?

KANIMOZHI I will talk to him in the morning, he's just gone to sleep.

NIIRA Ok. But in the meantime just let me speak to them now, because they are all still awake. Let me see what they are saying. Was the meeting very aggressive?

KANIMOZHI Pardon?

NIIRA When you went to that meeting, when Baalu came out and made that statement about outside support... was that meeting very aggressive?

KANIMOZHI No it was not. See people talk... Once the leader gets hurt everybody gets emotional, no? I think everybody in the party felt that way.

NIIRA Hmm OK, I will relay that because that's an important point to relay that he is hurt about that. I'll do that so they can address that... but you may want to tell him that he has called them every half an hour. Because they've told him very categorically, “are you authorised or not authorised to talk?”

KANIMOZHI If I say that it will look very bad.

NIIRA No, but Kani you have to tell him the truth no? This is the truth.

KANIMOZHI I'll try... I'll try.

75. CUT TO:

SCENE 26

INT. LIVING ROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATTARPUR. DELHI. NIGHT.

NIIRA gets up and walks to the bar. She flexes her back and sighs. She cracks her knuckles, rests on a barstool and dials again.

VIR SANGHVI Hi, Niira.

NIIRA Vir, sorry to disturb you.

VIR SANGHVI No... no.

NIIRA I just spoke to Kani. What she's saying is that the general feeling in the party and that of Karunanidhi is that he recognizes he has to deal with this problem, and he has to deal with it himself. But he feels the manner in which the Congress handled it... that they were very abrupt. They called over the telephone and said well this is it and nothing else. That is where he got offended. I think he also recognizes the list that was given, was given very casually. But he feels a little slighted because it was a very abrupt....

VIR SANGHVI Ok. I'll pass this on?

FADE OUT.

TITLE CARD:

THE NEXT DAY 23 MAY 2009 9:59 AM CUT TO: SCENE 27

INT. HALL/KITCHEN. RAJATHI AMMALS HOME. CIT COLONY. CHENNAI.

RAJATHI AMMAL is sitting on the dining table and is being served breakfast. KANIMOZHI is resting against a large book cabinet.

76. KANIMOZHI Hello.

NIIRA Hi, Kani.

KANIMOZHI Hi, Niira.

NIIRA I spoke to them again and asked them whether they would speak to the CM and give him some message, but they haven't taken a call. And he hasn't met Sonia Gandhi, I have confirmed that.

KANIMOZHI Yeah, even I found out.

NIIRA And I believe that he has indicated to somebody that he has met your father separately. He had a meeting with him and briefed him. And your father had told him to quietly have a meeting in Delhi on his own.

KANIMOZHI No, that's not true! He actually asked everybody to leave as he just wanted to have a word alone with dad. My mother - I mean, she didn't realize that - She just took a glass of buttermilk to my father. So she happened to be there through the entire conversation. He was trying to give one stupid spiel...

NIIRA Hmm

KANIMOZHI To him saying that it is important, we should be there. It's OK, I don't mind...

KANIMOZHI moves into the kitchen. Tries to look for something. KANIMOZHI (in Tamil to someone else) Where is the butter? Is it up there?

Someone hands her a butter dish. KANIMOZHI moves back into the hall and towards the dining table.

KANIMOZHI Hello? Hello?

77. NIIRA Hmm, hmm, hmm

KANIMOZHI So dad hasn't said anything. And today, dad has been told by that nobody who is actually interested in joining the cabinet should be allowed to negotiate.

NIIRA Correct, correct. Absolutely.

KANIMOZHI Dad is quite OK with that.

NIIRA Yeah, yeah. So I guess that's the better way to do it, no?

KANIMOZHI He is just lying and spreading...

NIIRA I spoke to Rajdeep just a few minutes ago.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. RAJDEEP SARDESAI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CNN-IBN AND IBN 18 NETWORK CUT TO:

NIIRA So, I asked Rajdeep. I said, “where did you get this information from?” He said, “look I'm going to tell you something”. He said, “Sun TV is actually working overtime in spreading news to all our correspondents. Not only ours, but Times Now and everybody else.” He said, “I recognized it last night, that they gave us wrong information when they said that the deal was signed.”

KANIMOZHI You should tell them also, Niira. He is the one who is actually creating half the problem.

NIIRA I did that, yeah. This morning. All my messages to everyone went. It said he is the only one.

78. KANIMOZHI But I don't think even the DMK is interested in giving him Telecom.

NIIRA I don't think so.

KANIMOZHI Because we've got our own TV channel and then it will go against us also.

NIIRA Look, Kani, in any case you’ll have to deal with the last mile later on. We really have to deal with that whole issue because of his blackmail to the other channels. Which is the only reason he has been able to create this confusion.

KANIMOZHI But then, again, whoever is going to come to take over IT-communication, I think the government should insist on going in a big way about Dish TV, no? To make sure the entire cable network is open to everybody.

NIIRA No, we're doing that. We are going to work on the policy. We're going to certainly lobby for it. That the last mile has to be dismissed. We're...everyone is fed up, all the channels are fed up, I'll tell you that. We're starting that process and we're going to all go together on that issue.

KANIMOZHI Not just in Tamil Nadu, all over the country.

NIIRA All over the country. Because you have to be fair, you have to be equitable to everyone.

KANIMOZHI Exactly. I mean, nobody should have this kind of a stranglehold, on anybody for that matter.

TITLE CARD:

LATER IN THE AFTERNOON

CUT TO:

79. SCENE 28

EXT. DMK HQ. ANNA ARIVALAYAM. TEYNAMPET. CHENNAI. AFTERNOON.

Second floor office in the DMK HQ. A group of men are seated in a big room watching news on KALAIGNAR TV. Most men are in the traditional lungi-shirt. A RAJA, in a safari suit is seen standing by a window. Behind him, in the compound, a huge statue of Anna towers. NIIRA’s now signature callertune cuts over the din from the TV.

SOUNDTRACK: Pal Pal Pal Pal Kaise ketega pal...

NIIRA Raja how are you?

A RAJA Haan, what she is telling, Kani is telling?

NIIRA She's saying that she's OK about it. She has no problem...

A RAJA Hmm.

NIIRA But the only thing is that somebody has to go talk to Azhagiri, which you have to do.

A RAJA Haan, I already spoke with him, I already spoke with him...

NIIRA You told him what he has told the Congress leaders in Delhi?

A RAJA I know! So who planted in the minds of the Congress saying that Azhagiri doesn't know English? NIIRA (conspiratorial) No, no, no, no.... Not only that. Not only that...that he and Stalin will be the only ones left to run the party tomorrow because the old man is senile and he is not going to be around any longer. And therefore Congress will be happy doing business with him eventually, and he controls Stalin.

HOLD FRAME:

80. V.O.G. STALIN KARUNANIDHI’S YOUNGER SON FROM SECOND WIFE A POLITICIAN AND ACTOR FAVOURED AS THE HEIR APPARENT TO LEADER

BACK TO:

A RAJA Hmm

NIIRA This is what he has said.

A RAJA (amazed) Oh, ho, ho, ho!

NIIRA (egging on) And that Azhagiri is criminal...`

A RAJA Hmm

NIIRA And he has not even studied more than 5th standard.

A RAJA Oh...

NIIRA That's the exact thing that he has told.

A RAJA OK, OK.

NIIRA You go and tell him this, no?

FADE OUT.

TITLE CARD:

LATER THAT NIGHT

CUT TO:

81. SCENE 29

INT. THE MED RESTAURANT. RADISSON BLU HOTEL. DELHI. NIGHT

A food and wine tasting gig is going on. VIR seems to be at the center of the tasting and toasting.

VIR SANGHVI (laughing) Hello.

NIIRA Sorry to disturb you.

VIR SANGHVI Hi, no problem, tell me?

NIIRA They had a meeting.

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA M.K. Narayanan had come.

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. M.K NARAYANAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR BACK TO:

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA Ya. But the thing is that it appears that he is still under a lot of pressure to take Maran, you know?

VIR SANGHVI Where is this coming from this pressure?

NIIRA It's coming from Stalin and his sister Selvi. VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA I believe Maran has given about 600 crores to Dayalu, Stalin’s mother.

82. HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. DAYALU AMMAL SECOND WIFE OF KARUNANIDHI MOTHER OF AZHAGIRI STALIN AND SELVI AND HOLDS 60% STAKE IN KALAIGNAR TV BACK TO:

VIR SANGHVI (amazed, laughs) 600 crores!

NIIRA 600 crores, is what I'm told.

VIR SANGHVI It's hard to argue with that kind of pressure, no?

NIIRA Isn't it?

VIR SANGHVI So, basically what they want is a little more flexibility and posts, right? They want probably more cabinets or something?

NIIRA They are saying one more cabinet. Kani, in any case was independent charge.

VIR SANGHVI Ya.

NIIRA But if they stick to three and give independent charge, then Kani gets her independent and then Azhagiri, Baalu and Raja come in?

VIR SANGHVI That's not so bad, you know. Unless Maran is one of the cabinet.

NIIRA Ya. unless Maran is one of the cabinet. But I don't think he can give it to three family members.

VIR SANGHVI Ya.

83. NIIRA That will send a very wrong signal.

VIR SANGHVI That's right. And it's good for the government also, that it doesn't seem to be giving it to the family.

NIIRA Ya, ya. But then I don't know whether Narayanan will be in the position to take names, you know.

VIR SANGHVI See Narayanan will talk to PM. He won't talk to the Congress president because he's PM's guy. He has gone on behalf of PM. So, PMO will send its feedback to the Congress Party. At that stage, my friends will get involved...

NIIRA So they will speak to Ahmed in any case, no?

VIR SANGHVI Ya, Ya. They will. And nothing will happen without him getting involved.

NIIRA Ya.

VIR SANGHVI So, I'll speak to him right away and convey this?

NIIRA He has not told Narayanan about this... but for Kani they've suggested a couple of ministries.

VIR SANGHVI Which ones?

NIIRA For Kani, he would prefer that she gets independent charge - Environment and Forest or something like that. You know, where she can get her teeth in. And she is very upright. So they shouldn't have any problem with her. Or by the way, Aviation also.

VIR SANGHVI (prompts) I was going to say...what about Civil Aviation?

NIIRA And Civil Aviation.

84. VIR SANGHVI It gives her the profile she would need, you know?

NIIRA She wants Aviation. Why? She says Aviation because she can do Chennai airport, Salem and Madurai and all that, you know...

VIR SANGHVI Ya.

NIIRA It gives her the... the foothold for the political side.

VIR SANGHVI We don't have anyone there. Let me pass it...

NIIRA Ya. And she is intelligent and she will do justice.

VIR SANGHVI I'll pass this on?

SLOW FADE OUT.

TITLE CARD:

NEXT MORNING MAY 24, 2009

CUT TO:

SCENE 30

INT. BEDROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATARPUR. NEW DELHI. MORNING.

Wide shot of the bedroom, with the blinds drawn closed. Deja Vu of the earlier scene. One of the three phones on NIIRA’s bedside table begins to ring. She reaches out and pulls the phone towards her.

KANIMOZHI Hello?

NIIRA Hi, good morning.

85. KANIMOZHI (apologetically) Sorry, sorry... I woke you up?

NIIRA No, no, no, I'm up. A few minutes back I got up.

KANIMOZHI Oh!

NIIRA Never mind, you know. Hi!

KANIMOZHI (lowered voice) No, no, I just wanted to know, I mean, what they are planning to give, for me?

NIIRA Mmm?

KANIMOZHI (sheepish) What are they planning to give?

NIIRA (patiently) I told him last night. I called after we spoke and I said that, you know, look at the Health option. Or give her Environment and Forest, if Health is not there, or consider Aviation. You know, that's the three I had said. I didn’t know, what else there was there. So, they weren't sure. They said they'll pass the message.

KANIMOZHI (asking) Even Tourism is not worth it? NIIRA Tourism - Independent charge? They may not give you, Kani. Because Ghulam Nabi Azad wants something more than... what do you call it... He's got only Parliamentary Affairs, no?

KANIMOZHI OK.

NIIRA That's why. So, I didn't mention Tourism Because they will keep it for a cabinet post.

KANIMOZHI Oh OK.

86. NIIRA I don’t know whether they will bring it down to independent charge. Because its Tourism and Culture together.

KANIMOZHI Ya.

NIIRA It's got both. And you'll get involved in all this embroiler of temples and, you know, all this that's going on.

KANIMOZHI Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.

NIIRA I don't know if you want to... but anyway. I mean like tell them now if you want. But I didn't tell them...

KANIMOZHI No, no, I've given the list with that. But anything else?

NIIRA What did you give on the list? What did you tell them?

KANIMOZHI I just gave Environment and Health. And they have added Tourism and Culture also. They said they will check it out.

NIIRA You gave a list this morning, yeah?

KANIMOZHI Yeah. I have given a list.

NIIRA (surprised) You didn't put Aviation? Kani!

KANIMOZHI (mumbles) Aviation, nooo! You know, if they suggest Aviation I will take it up. No problem.

NIIRA Hmm. Hmm. What about the others?

KANIMOZHI Nothing. They said they'll come back and tell us. So we have left it at that. Let's see.

87. TITLE CARD:

SOME TIME LATER 11:00 AM

CUT TO:

SCENE 31

EXT. OFFICE. GREEN HOUSE PROMOTERS. T NAGAR.CHENNAI. AFTERNOON.

A Raja is seated in his plush office cabin, looking sharp this morning. He indicates to his colleague (male, 45) that he’s going to make a call. They sip coffee, his phone is pressed to his ear.

SOUNDTRACK: Pal, pal, pal, pal, har pal, har pal...

NIIRA Hi!

A RAJA (sounding casual) Haan, tell me.

NIIRA Mr Raja?

A RAJA Yes?

NIIRA Niira.

A RAJA Tell me, Niira. Anything?

NIIRA I sent you an SMS. I've been speaking to Kani. Basically what they are saying is that you should be there.

A RAJA Yes.

NIIRA Leader is generally is saying that you should be there, because of the, you know, the Dalit dispensation, all that, you know. The Dravidian, the party, and all that.

A RAJA Ok.

88. NIIRA But she said, "No independent", they are not giving Kani independent charge.

A RAJA My case is clear, ya?

NIIRA Yours is clear, ya. Your case was cleared last night only.

A RAJA OK.

NIIRA No, but what is happening with Daya?

A RAJA Eh?

NIIRA Azhagiri or Daya? Only one can come, no?

A RAJA No, Two. Two can come. Textiles and Fertilisers.

NIIRA Both?

A RAJA Baalu will be the problem. (adds) I hope!

NIIRA I think that will be difficult for the Leader to justify three family members.

A RAJA (chuckles) That is it. That is the issue. Everybody knows!

NIIRA Narayanan's meeting is going on?

A RAJA Narayanan's meeting is over. He has gone to Delhi with cover.

NIIRA He's gone to...?

A RAJA He has gone to catch the flight... with cover.

89. NIIRA (not comprehending) Uh...Narayanan, ya?

A RAJA List, list! With the list!

NIIRA He has gone out with the list, no?

A RAJA (sheepish) I didn't know what is inside the cover.

NIIRA And Kani? she is with father?

A RAJA Maybe? Yes. Maybe she knows.

NIIRA I will call her now. And you are not there?

A RAJA I am not yet there.

NIIRA You're not there? And Maran? Maran is there?

A RAJA He is there, yes.

NIIRA (goading, falsetto) Why you didn't go?

A RAJA (cryptic) I didn't go.

NIIRA Huh?

A RAJA alright... why should I go?

NIIRA You should be there, no?

A RAJA No problem! Morning I met leader. And thereafter I came back for some other work.

90. NIIRA And Azhagiri... He knows what Maran has been saying about him?

A RAJA Hmm... It is known to Azhagiri.

NIIRA It is, no?

A RAJA Timely he will speak to leader - to his father. Only thing is, Maran will start the campaign against me...

NIIRA Hmm.

A RAJA That has to be taken care of. He may tell the press that tainted Minister is coming back into power again. This and that. Spectrum...

NIIRA No, no. We are handling that. Don't worry. We have had to take so much off the air, you know? Even Congress had to issue that statement, no? Also, I spoke to Sunil Mittal. Did Chandolia tell you?

A RAJA I didn't know that.

NIIRA I told him to stop. I told him it doesn't help... A RAJA Hmm. Tell Sunil Mittal, you have to work along with Raja for another five years. So, don't make...

NIIRA I told him that. I told him that. But then you also have to distance yourself from Anil, no?

HOLD FRAME:

V.O.G. ANIL AMBANI CHAIRMAN OF RELIANCE ANIL DHIRUBHAI AMBANI GROUP IS THE ESTRANGED BROTHER OF MUKESH ANIL HEADS RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS RELIANCE CAPITAL RELIANCE ENERGY AND RELIANCE NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED

91. BACK TO:

A RAJA Hmm.

CUT TO:

SCENE 32

INT. LIVING ROOM. OAK DRIVE. CHHATTARPUR FARMHOUSE. NEW DELHI

NIIRA looks pensive. She touches her rudraksha bracelet as she makes a call.

NIIRA Vir.

VIR SANGHVI Ya hi. Tell me.

NIIRA Hi, hi. Apparently they had given a list yesterday for four people to Narayanan.

VIR SANGHVI OK. OK.

NIIRA Then today when Narayanan went back there, they gave three. Kani got her father to agree to three. They said, OK, we don't want a fourth cabinet post but the only extra thing we ask is that you give us an independent charge post. VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA But Congress came back and said we will not do independent charge.

VIR SANGHVI Independent charge for anyone or independent charge only for Kani?

NIIRA For Kani. Three cabinet berths they agreed on. That was the original formula, in any case

VIR SANGHVI OK.

NIIRA A Minister of State with independent charge.

92. VIR SANGHVI Right.

NIIRA And that Congress seems to have not agreed to it.

VIR SANGHVI OK. Let me find out?

FADE TO BLACK.

SCENE 33

INT. LIVING ROOM. OAK DRIVE CHHATARPUR. LATE AFTERNOON

Afternoon sunlight streams through the windows. NIIRA lowers the temperature of the air conditioning and tries to work on her laptop. She is restless. Picks up her phone. “Jesus take the wheel” by Carrie Underwood fills the air.

SOUNDTRACK: Jesus take the wheel. Take it from my hand. ‘Cos I can’t do this on my own...

CECILIA Hello?

NIIRA (dejected) Ya, she decided to opt out..

CECILIA Yeah I just got an SMS. She opted out.

NIIRA Who from?

CECILIA From Claudine. She heard, na? That I was asking mummy to pray.

NIIRA Mmm. She opted out she says that I can't... But tell your mum to continue praying, it's not been frozen yet. They’ve sent the list but...

CECILIA I told my mother that I got an SMS saying that she opted out. She’s saying that I was praying for her so hard. ...So still there are chances, is it?

93. NIIRA Maybe father will see some sense. Congress may see some sense giving her independent... She wants independent charge, she doesn't want to work under Dayanidhi Maran.

CECILIA Definitely.

NIIRA Her view is that he shouldn't have been there in the first place.

CECILIA Hmm. He’s been given?

NIIRA Yeah he's been given. His name has gone in. But it can still be changed, by evening somehow.

CECILIA It can be changed, is it?

NIIRA I hope so. (sighs heavily) It all depends on God really.

CECILIA Let's pray. So, There are still chances, you're saying? NIIRA (sounding sad) Can be. Ask your ma to pray.

CECILIA I'll tell her to pray. She’s saying tell her that I was praying for her so much. I'll tell her there are still chances.

NIIRA (very dejected) Mmm. Tell her not to stop, ya!

CECILIA OK, I'll tell her. I told her that she's opted out. I think it's finished...

NIIRA (whispers) No no no. I think there's still a chance.

FADE TO BLACK.

94. FADE IN TITLE:

EPILOGUE

SCROLLING TITLES:

TWO DAYS LATER 27 MAY 2009 THE POWER SHARING FORMULA IS WORKED OUT AND THE REMAINING CABINET MINISTERS ARE SWORN IN

A RAJA CONTINUED AS MINISTER OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DAYANIDHI MARAN GOT A CABINET BERTH AS MINISTER OF TEXTILES

AZHAGIRI ALSO GOT A CABINET BERTH HE BECAME MINISTER OF CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZERS

TR BAALU WAS DROPPED FROM SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT KAMAL NATH WAS DROPPED FROM COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ANAND SHARMA GOT COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY KAMAL NATH GOT BAALU’S POST OF TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

KANIMOZHI OPTED OUT AFTER NOT GETTING AN INDEPENDENT CHARGE

FROM KANI'S LIST PRAFUL PATEL GOT A SECOND TERM AS CIVIL AVIATION MINISTER AMBIKA SONI BECAME MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND CULTURE GHULAM NABI AZAD GOT HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE JAIRAM RAMESH GOT ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

ANOTHER TWO DAYS LATER MK STALIN WAS SWORN IN AS DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER OF TAMIL NADU

TITLE CARD:

END OF ACT-I

FADE TO BLACK

95.